Underground vehicle parking elevator



4 Sheets-Sheet l 4 IIIH WIN' Inventors FZOYD MNASH ROY/. )VAS/ Attorney F. M. NASH ETAL UNDERGROUND VEHICLE PARKING ELEVATOR Feb. 10, 1953 Filed Aug. 19, 1949 Feb. l0', 1953 F. M. NASH ErAL 2,627,942

UNDERGROUND VEHICLE PARKING ELEVATOR Hara/NASH for A. /wvslfsf` @www Attamey Feb. 10, 1953 F. M. NASH ETAL UNDERGROUND VEHICLE PARKING ELEVATOR 4 Sheets-Sheet 3 Filed .Aug- 19, 1949 Feb. 10, 1953 F. M. NASH ET AL UNDERGROUND VEHICLE PARKING ELEVATOR 4 Sheets-Sheet 4 Filed Aug. 19, 1949 Inventors l ag Hora r1. M45/v i a' anun? @Y A. NASH Attorney Patented Feb. 1G, 1953 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE UNDERGROUND VEHECLE PARKING ELEVATOR Floyd M. Nash and Roy A. Nash, Blueield, W. Va.

Application August 19, 1949, Serial No. 111,222

(Cl. IS7- 1) 1 Claim.

The present invention relates to underground vehicle parking elevators and it consists in the combinations, constructions and arrangements of parts herein described and claimed.

Generally there is provided an elevator for parking automobiles and other vehicles and it comprises a well or shaftway in which is erected a framework in which is mounted a vertically movable multi-floored elevator. Air pressure operated means is provided for moving the elevator yand novel means is provided for bridging the gap between any given oor of the elevator and the ground adjacent the structure. Novel means is provided for bracing various elements of the structure and for keeping the Well in a dry condition. Other novel features will be brought out in the detailed description of the invention.

It is accordingly an object of the invention to provide a structure of the character set forth which is simple and relatively inexpensive in construction and yet efficient and effective in use.

Another object of the invention is the provision of a structure of the character set forth wherein all the floor space of the elevator is available at all times for the parking of vehicles.

Another object of the invention is the provision, in an apparatus of the character set forth, of novel means for excluding rain and snow from vehicles stored therein.

A further object of the invention is the provision, in an apparatus of the character set forth of a novel arrangement of trap doors in the floors of an elevator forming a part of the invention.

Still another object of the invention is the provision of novel means for motivating an elevator forming a part of the invention.

Another object of the invention is the provision, in an apparatus of the character set forth, of novel swingable bridges forming a part of the invention.

Another object of the invention is the provision of a structure of the character set forth in which a housing building for protecting the same is unnecessary.

A still further object of the invention is the provision of novel means for bracing certain elements of the invention.

Other and further objects of the invention will become apparent from a reading of the following specification taken in conjunction with the drawings, in which:

Figure 1 is a front elevational view of an embodiment of the invention,

Figure 2 is a sectional view taken along line 2-2 of Figure 1,

Figure 3 is a sectional view taken along line 3-3 of Figure 1,

Figure 4 is a sectional view taken along line 4-4 of Figure 1,

Figure 5 is a view similar to Figure 1 but showing the elevator therein in lowered position,

Figure 6 is a fragmentary vertical section-al View taken along line 6--6 of Figure 5,

Figure 'l is an enlarged fragmentary vertical sectional view illustrating certain details of -construction,

Figure 8 is a sectional view taken along line 8-3 of Figure 7,

Figure 9 is an enlarged sectional view taken along line 9--9 of Figure 1,

Figure 9A is a View similar to Figure 9 but showing the bridge therein in lowered position,

Figure 10 is a fragmentary sectional View illustrating certain details of construction,

Figure 11 is an enlarged sectional view taken along line II-II of Figure 3, and

Figure l2 is a fragmentary perspective view i1- lustrating certain elements of the invention.

Referring more particularly to the drawings, there is shown therein an elevator well having vertical side walls It of relatively thick concrete construction and a well ii-oor I I contiguous thereto and likewise formed of relatively thick concrete. Centrally disposed in the well oor II is a recess I2.

A frame is provided and consists of a vertically extending member I3 of angle iron mounted in each corner of the well and extending into the floor II, as indicated at I4, in Figure 12. The upper ends of vthe vertical frame members I3 are interconnected by cross bars I5 and are further interconnected by cross bars I6, Il and I8 which are mounted in spaced relation to the top cross bar I5.

Adjacent each corner of the elevator well is a hydraulic cylinder I9 which extends upwardly to a point immediately below ground level and which is connected adjacent i-ts lower end with an adjacent vertical frame member I3 by means of a reinforcing bracket 2li.

An elevator is provided and consists of four vertical frame members 2 I each slidably mounted within an adjacent vertical frame member I3 and to the upper ends of which are connected horizontally extending elevator cross bars 22 for the support of a roof 23 for the elevator.

In spaced relation from the roof 23 and interconnecting the vertical elevator frame members 2| are groups of cross bars 24, 25, 26 and 2l which are formed of angle iron and which extend inwardly to support floors 28, 29, 39 and 3l.

In each of the hydraulic cylinders I9 is slidably mounted a rod 32, the upper end of which is received in a socket member 33 aixed to the underside of the floor 28. Openings 35 are provided in each of the floors 29, 30 and 3| as well as in a bottom floor 36 for the passage therethrough of the cylinder I9 when the elevator is lowered. rThe floor 3E is supported upon cross bar members 37 which are, in turn, aflixed to the vertical elevator frame members 2 I.

Stop members 38 are welded or otherwise aixed to the vertical members I3 in spaced relation from the bottom of the elevator well and hydraulic connections 39 are` provided for the cylinders I9 adjacent the lower ends thereof.

The elevator frame is provided also with vertically extending brace members 40 which are spaced from the corners of the elevator frame and which interconnect the cross bars 24, 25, 26 and 2-'1- and 31.

A trap door il is provided in eachv of the'floors 28, 29, 33, 3i and'.

Aixed to the cross bars 25, 24, 26, 27 and 31- at the central portions of the krear side thereof is a bumper guard 42 andi to the forward edge of lthe i'loors 28, 29, 33,231 andSB is pivotally connected ai draw bridge 33 which is' adapted, when lowered, to bridge the space between the frontedge oi the oor and the inner edge of a narrowed portion 44 formed in the upper edge of the wall I' and which' narrowed portion lill has its upper surface lying ush withthe ground level. fr door45 is mounted uponthe under side of the roof 23 and is adapted'to close the space between the roof 23 and the oor 28 at the front end' thereof` when in lowered position.

In operation," it will be apparent that in order to raise the elevator hydraulicffluid is introduced under pressure into the conduits 39 -throughiconventional means thereby forcing the plunger rods 32 upwardly from the cylinders i 9 to thereby raise'the-elevator. Suitable controls for thehy- `draulic fluid will, of course, be provided at a convenient point upon the ground level so thatthe operator may bring any one oi the :doors 28, 29,30, 3I or 35 level with the ground at will. To

lower the elevator it is only necessary to relieve the pressure in the cylinders i9 to thereby allow the descent of the rods 32 into the cylinders I9.

When the desired iioor has been brought level with the ground the drawbridge 43 connected with that particular floor may be lowered to a horizontal position thus bridging the space between the elevator proper and the walls of the well. The drawbridges d3 may be moved upwardly tovertical position when not needed. The stop members 38 are provided for limiting the downward movement of the elevator and it will be seenthat the lowermost cross bars 3? will come to rest upon the stop members 38 when the elevator is so lowered.

Whenthe elevator is in its lowermost position a working space still remains between the oor 36 and the floor I I of the well and access may be had to this space from any floor of the elevator by means of the trap doors 4I. The recess I2 is provided to collect whatever water may accumulate in the bottom thereof in the elevator well and suitable pumping means may be provided for moving such accumulated water to a point without thewell.

It will also be apparent that while but one unit has been described herein that several units may be mounted side by side as shown, for example, in Figure 5` of the drawings.

The bumper guards 42 at the rear of each floor of the elevator act to prevent a vehicle upon that oor from passing beyond the rearward limits of the oor. When the elevator is in its lowermost position, it will be seen that the roof 23 is at a height of one floor above ground level and that the door 45 may then be lowered to for-m a closure. for the front of the apparatus. The outerframework may be provided with suitable covering ifV so desired.

While but one form of the invention hasV been shown and described herein, it will be readily apparent to those skilled in the art that many minor modications may be made without departing from thespirit of the' invention or the scope of the appended claim.

Whatis claimed is:

An apparatus of the character described comprising a rectangular elevator well, a framework mounted in the bottomof the weiland extending a distance above ground level, a multi-floored elevator vertically movable in the framework, a plurality of vertically extendingcylinders mounted in the bottom of said' well, a piston rodextending upwardly frorn each cylinder, andl a plurality of Vsockets aiixedto the underside of the uppermost floor and each adapted'to receivethe upper end'of a piston rod therein,said remaining;-k floors each provided with openings each adapted to receive therethrough one of said cylinders and.l itsI associated piston when said elevator is lowered.

FLOYD M. NASH. ROY A. NASH.

.REFERENCES` CITED The following references areofv record iti-the le of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS 

